Wipe container and dispenser

ABSTRACT

A wipe container and dispenser in which tray for receiving the wipes can be removably attached expeditiously to a decorative cover. The tray snaps into the decorative cover from the bottom. A coupling member provides releasable snap fit coupling between the tray and the cover. The cover can have a molded design such as an animal shape or sports related shape.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/891,168, filed Oct. 15, 2013, the entirety of whichis hereby incorporated by reference into this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wipe container and dispenser in whicha tray for receiving the wipes can be removably attached expeditiouslyto a decorative cover.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventional containers for holding wipes, such as baby wipes, areformed as a rectangular box which can be opened or closed from the top.The lid of the box snaps into engagement with the side of the box.

It is desirable to provide an improved wipe container and dispenser inwhich the container can be removably attached expeditiously to adecorative cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wipe container and dispenser in whichtray for receiving the wipes can be removably attached expeditiously toa decorative cover. The tray snaps into the decorative cover from thebottom. The tray and cover combine to preserve the moisture of thewipes. A coupling member provides releasable snap fit coupling betweenthe tray and the cover. In one embodiment, the coupling member issqueezed inwardly to release the tray from the cover. The cover can havea molded design such as an animal shape or a sports related shape. Thetray can have a size to receive baby wipes, toddler wipes or adultwipes. The invention will be more fully described by reference to thefollowing drawings.

The invention will be more fully described by reference to the followingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a bottom view of the wipe container anddispenser in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the tray attached to the housingsupport plate.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a cover attached to the housing supportplate being received over the tray.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the cover including an opening fordispensing of the wipes.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the cover attached to the housingsupport plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodimentof the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be usedthroughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or likeparts.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the wipe container and dispenser 10shown from the bottom in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention. Walls 12 and 13 extend from tray base 14. Adjacent walls 12a, 13 a, and 12 b, 13 a meet at respective corners 15 a, 15 b. Adjacentwalls 12 a, 13 b, and 12 b, 13 b meet at respective corners 15 c, 15 d.Walls 12, walls 13, tray base 14 and corners 15 can be integral to oneanother to form tray 18.

Tray 18 can have a rectangular shape. Tray 18 can have a width W and alength L to be slightly larger than the size of a conventional babywipe. Alternatively, tray 18 can be a width W and a length L to beslightly larger than the size of a conventional toddler or adult wipe.For example tray 18 can have a width W in the range of about 5 to about7 inches and a length L in a range of about 5 to about 7 inches for ababy wipe. For example tray 18 can have a width W in the range of about7 to about 9 inches and a length L in a range of about 7 to about 9inches for a toddler wipe. For example tray 18 can have a width W in therange of about 4 to about 5 and a length L in a range of about 5 toabout 6 inches for an adult wipe. Tray 18 is slightly larger for exampleabout 0.25 inches to about 0.75 inches for each of the tray size.

Tray 18 can be coupled to housing support plate 20 as shown in FIG. 2.Walls 12 a and 12 b of tray 18 can include coupling member 24 forreleasable snap fit coupling of tray 18 into housing support plate 20.Coupling member 24 can include protrusion 26.

In the closed position protrusion 26 extends over indentation 30 ofhousing support plate 20 to lock tray 18 into engagement with housingsupport plate 20. In the open position, protrusion 26 is moved in thedirection of arrow A_(l) to release tray 18 from housing support plate20 as shown in FIG. 1. Walls 12 a and 12 b can include movable section32 positioned below protrusion 26 for providing spring action ofcoupling member 24.

Tray 18 in the upright position receives wipes 40 as shown in FIG. 3.Housing support plate 20 is coupled or integral with cover 50 as shownin FIG. 5. Cover 50 and housing support plate 20 can be received overtray 18 such that tray 18 is attached and removed from bottom 52 ofcover 50. Housing support plate 20 is snapped into engagement with tray18. Cover 50 can have a decorative molded design, such as for example ananimal shape. Alternatively, cover 50 can have a decorative moldeddesign of a sport related shape, such as for example a shape of an icerink, football field, baseball field, basketball court and the like.Tray 18 can be disengaged from cover 50 through activation of couplingmember 24. Wipes 40 can be removed from opening 54 formed in cover 50 asshown in FIG. 4. Opening 54 can be closed with flap 55 havesubstantially the same size as opening 54.

It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments areillustrative of only a few of the many possible specific embodiments,which can represent applications of the principles of the invention.Numerous and varied other arrangements can be readily devised inaccordance with these principles by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wipe dispenser for dispensing at least one wipecomprising: a decorative cover, said decorative cover adapted to beremovably attached to a container for holding the at least one wipe. 2.The wipe dispenser of claim 1 wherein said decorative cover includes amolded decorative design.
 3. The wipe dispenser of claim 2 wherein saidmolded decorative design is an animal shape or a sports related shape.4. The wipe dispenser of claim 1 wherein said container comprises atray, said tray snapping into said decorative cover from a bottom ofsaid decorative cover.
 5. The wipe dispenser of claim 4 furthercomprising a housing support plate coupled or integral with saiddecorative cover, said housing support plate being snapped into saidtray for snapping said tray into engagement with said decorative cover.6. The wipe dispenser of claim 4 wherein said tray includes a couplingmember including at least one protrusion and further comprising ahousing support plate coupled or integral with said decorative cover,said housing support plate including at least one indentation, in aclosed position said at least one protrusion extending over a respectivesaid at least one protrusion to lock said tray into engagement with thehousing support plate.
 7. The wipe dispenser of claim 6 wherein in anopen position the at least one protrusion is moved in a direction torelease the at least one protrusion from the respective at least oneindentation.
 8. The wipe dispenser of claim 7 wherein said couplingmember is moved with spring action.
 9. The wipe dispenser of claim 8wherein a wall of said tray below said coupling member includes amovable section, said movable section providing the spring action ofsaid coupling member.
 10. The wipe dispenser of claim 1 wherein saiddecorative cover includes an opening for dispensing the at least onewipe.
 11. The wipe dispenser of claim 10 wherein said decorative coverfurther comprises a flap for covering said opening.
 12. The wipedispenser of claim 1 wherein said tray has a size slightly larger than asize of a baby wipe.
 13. The wipe dispenser of claim 1 wherein said trayhas a size slightly larger than a size of a toddler wipe.
 14. The wipedispenser of claim 1 wherein said tray has a size slightly larger than asize of an adult wipe.
 15. A wipe dispenser for dispensing at least onewipe comprising: a decorative cover having a molded shape, saiddecorative cover adapted to be snap fit to a container for holding theat least one wipe.
 16. The wipe dispenser of claim 15 wherein saidcontainer comprises a tray, said tray snapping into said decorativecover from a bottom of said decorative cover.
 17. The wipe dispenser ofclaim 16 further comprising a housing support plate coupled or integralwith said decorative cover, said housing support plate being snappedinto said tray for snapping said tray into engagement with saiddecorative cover.
 18. The wipe dispenser of claim 16 wherein said trayincludes a coupling member including at least one protrusion and furthercomprising a housing support plate coupled or integral with saiddecorative cover, said housing support plate including at least oneindentation, in a closed position said at least one protrusion extendingover a respective said at least one protrusion to lock said tray intoengagement with the housing support plate.
 19. The wipe dispenser ofclaim 18 wherein in an open position the at least one protrusion ismoved in a direction to release the at least one protrusion from therespective at least one indentation.
 20. The wipe dispenser of claim 19wherein said coupling member is moved with spring action.